Water storage capacity of different forested lands in Liupan Mountains in Ningxia

In order to estimate water conservation function of different forests in Liupan Mountains,researches on the characteristics of water storage capacity of forest litter and soil are carried out,they are Larix principis-rupprechtii pure plantation,Quercus liaotungensis pure natural forest,Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana mixed natural forest,Pinus armandii and Betula albo-sinensis and Betula platyphlla mixed natural forest.Litter storage quantity is determined by square samples and its water retention capacity is determined by soaking in water.Soil physical properties related to water are measured by cutting ring and soaking in water.As to amount of water contained in litters,it showed that Pinus armandii and Betula albo-sinensis and Betula platyphlla mixed natural forest is the largest,Larix principis-rupprechtii pure plantation is larger,then is Quercus liaotungensis pure natural forest,finally is Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana mixed natural forest.Undecomposed litters of Larix principis-rupprechtii pure plantation and half-decomposed litters of Pinus armandii and Betula albo-sinensis and Betula platyphlla mixed natural forest become saturated after 6 hours dripping in water and others all are 3 hours.As to maximum soil water storage amount,results showed that Pinus armandii and Betula albo-sinensis and Betula platyphlla mixed natural forest is the largest,Quercus liaotungensis pure natural forest is larger,then is Larix principis-rupprechtii pure plantation,finally is Betula platyphylla and Populus davidiana mixed natural forest.